John Latter in Christ Church Infants School (Belgrave Road) Dover UK

John Latter, on March 25, 2007, said:

- I'm not as chubby now but I'm still as scruffy ('smug').

This photo was taken when I was about 6 (in 1956 or 57) while a pupil at Christ Church C of E (Church of England) Infants School (more commonly known as Belgrave School) in Dover.

There's a story behind why I'm wearing braces on the outside and my collar is all over the place but I'll leave that for another time.

We were photographed in pairs and I wonder who the fingers on the lefthand side of the image belong to..

Names I remember from then who were definitely in my class include:

Leslie Simpson, Margaret Cheeseman, Beverly Hubbard, Julie Stevenson, Pamela Pearson, James Kendall

Other names who may have been:

Derek Allan, Robert Coulson, Paul Robson, John Mackenzie (a bully)

I seem to remember a Miss Skinner who took my class in the first year and a Miss (or Mrs) Cuffield who took the last. There was also a Mrs Black but I'm not sure if she was a teacher or a 'dinner lady' - what I do remember is that she lived close to the school in Longfield Road and would hand out apples from her garden during the summer. Saved all the effort of scrumping them :)

I'll have to take time out and see if I can remember some more..

A satellite view of the school can be seen here

and it is also has a Friends Reunited page

John Latter, on March 29, 2007, said:

Other photos are available via the John Latter tag - this one was taken when I was about 2 years-old!

Nando Cunha, on April 17, 2007, said:

The photo is historical. Beleza!!!!!!!

John Latter, on April 17, 2007, said:

Thank you Nando - it certainly is historical, especially when viewed through my eyes :)

Nando Cunha, on April 17, 2007, said:

John, click here and traveling in my city.

Nando Cunha, on April 17, 2007, said:

Beatifull photos have in your album. Bye amigo...

John Latter, on April 17, 2007, said:

"John, click here and traveling in my city."

Very colourful, Nando - and with wide-open spaces rarely found in English towns!

I particularly liked the sunset (INCRÍVEL POR DO SOL, IMPERATRIZ-MA) probably because the sense of peace and of relaxing at the end of the day is pretty much universal :)

John Latter, on April 17, 2007, said:

The photo is historical. Beleza!!!!!!!

When I first read Nando's comment (who is from Brazil) I somewhat surprisedly thought he was referring to the specific image at the top of this page.

On reflection, and after reading a later comment he made, I'm realized he was referring to the historical photos instead.

Oh well, back to being ugly :)

John Latter, on May 29, 2007, said:

My 'historical' (or hysterical) photos currently include:

Queen Street (aged about 2)

Belgrave School (aged about 6)

St Mary's School (aged 11)

Dover Grammar School for Boys (aged 12 or 13)

Other photos appear under the "John Latter" tag.

Nawitka, on October 27, 2007, said:

That jumper (we'd say "sweater") looks hand-knit of itchy wool.

John Latter, on October 28, 2007, said:

Nawitka said:

That jumper (we'd say "sweater") looks hand-knit of itchy wool.

I had to smile when I read your comment, Nawitka, because I can certainly remember wearing 'sweaters' that felt like barbed wire and the one in the photo could easily have been one of the culprits! It does look hand-knitted, too, although I was wearing a shirt and vest (and God knows what else) on that particular occasion.

This may come under the heading of 'too much information' so just hit the 'close window' button if it does:

Knowing the school photograph was going to be taken that day my step-mother had given me strict instructions not to do anything that would spoil my carefully-crafted appearance.

Unfortunately, just prior to the photo being taken, I had to go to the loo but was too young to subsequently re-assemble the various layers of clothes I was wearing in their correct sequence.

As a result, and as you can see in the photo, my shirt collar is sticking out on one side, my braces (suspenders?) are now outside of my jumper/sweater, and the left 'brace' has a button undone. Probably had my shoes on the wrong feet, too!

John Latter, on October 31, 2007, said:

evaldo melo said:

Tambem tenho fotos de imperatriz, fuiii

I used a Portuguese to English software translator and got: "Also I have empress's photos, fuiii" - I'ld be grateful if anyone could do any better!

John Latter, on November 21, 2007, said:

More historical (or hysterical) photos of myself taken between the ages of 16 and 19 (ie 1967 - 1970) while I was an "Apprentice Tradesman" at the Royal Corps of Signals Army Apprentices College in Harrogate, Yorkshire, training to be a 'Radio-Relay Technician':

1) 67C Recruit Squadron Group Photo

2) 67C Recruit Squadron Close-Up

3) Senior Term 1970 Group Photo

4) Senior Term 1970 Close-Up

I had forgotten to previously include this photo of me in the North Center Bastion taken in 2007.

Daniel Mitin, on November 22, 2007, said:

More historical than hysterical John :)

John Latter, on November 22, 2007, said:

Daniel Mitin said:

More historical than hysterical John :)

Thank you, Daniel - I hope to stay historical for as long as I can! :)